Suspensions of lines, pulled trains and severe delays due to snow
The passage of Storm Kristin, with snowfall and rain, is causing cuts and delays in railway services in half the country. Throughout the morning there are at least half a dozen convoys in difficulties due to the ice, while routes have been rescheduled.
The Alvia 4273 that left Chamartín at 7:45 a.m. bound for Santander is losing 90 minutes at the Valdestillas interchange due to ice accumulation in the stands. The AVE 4060 that left Gijón at 5:58 am towards Madrid-Chamartín is also experiencing problems. In this case, the traffic jam lasts 65 minutes in León due to problems with a pantograph when passing through the Vilecha interchange and due to difficulties in the operation in the area around León, where the detour is frozen. At this time, Adif plans to transfer to the crossing in León to avoid passing through the Vilecha exchange station.
Other affected trains are the Alvia 10005 that began running in Cádiz at 6:29 towards Madrid Chamartín. Alternative transportation has been activated to take travelers to Córdoba and from here, using the alternative plan in Adamuz, to via Villanueva de Córdoba to continue by train towards Madrid-Atocha. Finally, the Renfe Alvia 291, which left the Badajoz station at 06:36 heading to Madrid-Chamartín, has concluded its journey in Leganés, already in Madrid, due to accumulation of snow in both Chamartín and Fuencarral. Travelers have continued their journey on Cercanías.
The Alvia 10000, Chamartín Cádiz, departing at 3:11 p.m., foresees the use of the alternative plan in Adamuz, to continue from Córdoba towards Cádiz with the S/130 branch that leaves Alvia 1005 in Córdoba.
Regarding line suspensions and speed limitations in circulation, there are those in Madrid and the North and South corridors. The Ministry of Transport has reported damage to the Madrid station of Chamartín and the Cercanías lines in the northern area of the Community of Madrid, where the service to the mountain area of Cotos has been suspended early in the morning.
In the Central railway region, service is cut in Ponferrada (León); significant delays are occurring in Ávila; The Segovia-Cercedilla (Madrid) line has been suspended, and alternative transport plans have been activated in Soria and in the Sigüenza (Guadalajara)-Zaragoza corridor.
Problems in rail traffic are also found in the Southern region, with problems in the centralized traffic control of Cercanías Sevilla, where voltage drops have also occurred. The storm has forced the suspension of traffic on the Bobadilla-Algeciras highway and on the Jaén-Córdoba highway. And traffic has been cut off in Villar del Río (Córdoba) since 9:30 a.m. due to flooding.
The effects on the railway system in Extremadura, in this case due to the wind, are found in Cabeza de Buey, Plasencia and Zafra.
In the northeast corridor, snow regulations have been activated between Guadalajara and Calatayud (Zaragoza), traveling at 160 kilometers per hour on the high-speed line. At this point the trains already reach delays of up to 120 minutes and increasing.
Limitations on circulation also occur in the North area. The pass is blocked at 160 kilometers per hour between Soto del Real and Túnel de Guadarrama, and between Medina and Taboadela.
Adif and Renfe do not report significant effects on the Levante corridor.
